Why Are There Third Wheels?

The next morning, Jiang Bai yawned and arrived at the train station on time.

As soon as he stepped into the waiting hall, he suddenly stopped and froze on the spot.

Not far away, the Titania who should have been dashing and heroic, Erza Scarlett, was standing next to a pile of... no, a small mountain made up of countless suitcases, packages, and handbags of all sizes.

The sheer number was so large that a special luggage trolley was needed to barely hold it all.

Jiang Bai's eye twitched involuntarily. He strode over, pointed at the mountain of luggage, and his face was filled with disbelief.

"Erza, didn't I give you a spatial ring? What's this...?"

That's right, a spatial ring.

This is an alchemical toy that Jiang Bai created in his spare time after he had completely mastered his own magic power.

He successfully inscribed the complex Space Pouch Magic directly onto the small ring.

However, the process was far too complicated and the requirements for materials were too demanding, so he only made two, one for Erza and one for Mirajane.

Each ring has a separate space of three cubic meters inside.

It's not that we can't make it bigger, it's just that we can't find suitable materials that can support stronger Space Magic.

The whole thing about giving a ring back then actually caused quite a bit of a joke.

Jiang Bai originally thought that giving a ring would be practical, convenient to carry, and could also serve as a token of love between lovers—a win-win-win situation.

As a result, when he took out the two exquisite rings and handed them to the two men respectively.

Mirajane's reaction was fairly normal. She was only stunned for a moment, and then two charming blushes appeared on her face. In her purple eyes, there was both surprise and a hint of coquettishness, as if to say, "You've finally figured it out."

Erza's reaction, however, was more intense.

She stared at the ring, frozen in place as if Petrification Magic.

Immediately afterwards, her usually aloof and beautiful face turned red at a visible speed, from her cheeks to her ears, and then from her ears to her neck.

Finally, after a barely audible "I... I'm not ready yet," this Titania, who could take on a hundred enemies on the battlefield, very decisively rolled her eyes and once again fainted from a rapid heartbeat.

The scene became quite awkward.

As the memory ended, Jiang Bai looked at the huge pile of luggage in front of him and felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

Erza responded to his question with an expression that seemed perfectly natural.

"Oh, that ring? I'm already full."

Is it full?

What exactly did you put in that three cubic meter space?!

Jiang Bai really wanted to ask that, but he held back.

Erza patted a huge suitcase next to her, almost half her height, and explained with a serious expression, "These are all for emergencies; they're necessities."

As she spoke, she opened one of the boxes to show Jiang Bai.

Inside, various styles of clothes, pajamas, spare armor, and even several different styles of evening gowns were neatly arranged.

"What if we encounter a banquet on the way that requires us to attend a formal occasion?" Erza's logic was impeccable.

Jiang Bai no longer wanted to see what was inside the other boxes.

Just then, Erza gave a knowing smile.

"Perfect, Jiang Bai, please put these things into your Space Pouch for me."

"..."

Jiang Bai sighed helplessly.

He knew this would happen.

He waved his hand, and an invisible Telekinesis surged out, completely enveloping the mountain of luggage.

The next second, all the luggage vanished into thin air, and he stored it all in his Space Pouch.

"Alright, let's go."

Jiang Bai clapped his hands, happily preparing to enjoy this rare two-person mission with Erza.

"Wait a minute."

Erza's voice made him stop in his tracks.

"Hmm?" Jiang Bai's smile faltered slightly.

"I also invited other people."

Erza's tone was calm and even, but her words struck Jiang Bai like a bolt from the blue.

The smile on his face vanished instantly.

Why is there a light bulb?!

Erza keenly noticed the change in his emotions, and a barely perceptible blush appeared on her usually handsome face.

She turned her head away, not daring to look Jiang Bai in the eye, and her voice was several decibels lower than usual.

"Okay, when we get back this time... we'll... go on another date."

Although Erza is never shy about taking practical actions, such as letting Jiang Bai rest his head on her lap.

However, she always seemed somewhat clumsy and shy when it came to expressing herself verbally.

However, before Jiang Bai could even feel happy about this promise, an incredibly noisy voice came from the other end of the waiting hall.

"Ugh! Why do I have to be with you?"

"That's what I should be saying!"

Another equally displeased voice immediately retorted,

"If it's about helping Jiang Bai and Erza, I'm enough on my own!"

"Then you go alone! I don't want to go with you!"

"Then don't come! Just wait until Erza beats you half to death afterwards!"

Lucy sat alone on a bench in the waiting area, her hands covering her face, her body trembling slightly with shame, and muttering to herself.

"Pretend I don't know them... pretend I don't know them... I'm just an ordinary mage passing by..."

Happy sat leisurely next to her, munching on a small dried fish while watching with great interest the two idiots huddled together not far away.

"Hey~ Why are you here Lucy?"

While watching the spectacle, Happy asked curiously.

Lucy lowered her hands from her face, revealing a look of utter despair.

"Because Miss Mira said that those two will definitely start arguing where Erza can't see them, and Jiang Bai will just be watching the show like you, so... she asked me to come and try to stop them."

Happy glanced at Natsu and Gray, whose verbal argument was about to escalate into a full-blown fight, and then at Lucy, who was sitting motionless in place.

"You didn't try to stop it either."

"What can I do!" Lucy cried out, burying her face in her hands in despair. "These two idiots just won't listen to a word I say!"

Just then, Erza and Jiang Bai walked over.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Erza's clear, cool, and penetrating voice seemed to possess a certain magic.

Natsu and Gray, who were arguing fiercely just a second ago, froze in their tracks.

The two separated as if electrocuted, then stood together with their arms around each other at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow, their faces adorned with incredibly "friendly" smiles.

Those eyes, which had just been spitting fire, were now crystal clear, filled with love for their companions.